To enhance understanding of supplemental oxygen—its utility in and adoption by patients with pulmonary fibrosis—by examining how patients perceive it and by determining how perceptions and patient-centered outcome measures change from before to after supplemental oxygen is prescribed.

Change in quality of life, fatigue and cough from prior to one month after daily-use supplemental oxygen implementation [ Time Frame: One month after daily-use supplemental oxygen implementation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Change in day-to-day functioning and activity space from prior to one month after daily-use supplemental oxygen implementation [ Time Frame: One month after daily-use supplemental oxygen implementation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Functioning will be captured by having patients wear an activity monitor, and activity space will be capture by having patients wear a mobile GPS recorder.

We will interview primary supporters/caregivers of people living with PF to learn from a different perspective of what it's like to use supplemental oxygen, both for the person living with PF and the primary supporter him/herself.

Prescribers of supplemental oxygen

We will interview supplemental oxygen prescribers to better understand their practices around prescribing oxygen and their expectations for the patients to whom they prescribe supplemental oxygen.

Detailed Description:

The investigators aim to recruit patients with PF to participate in interviews and/or a one-year study of supplemental oxygen (O2). In the one-year study, the investigators will collect data before and for one year after PF patients are prescribed daily-use supplemental oxygen and compare outcomes, including shortness of breath, quality of life, fatigue, cough, and day-to-day functioning before and after O2.

In addition to this, the investigators will interview O2 prescribers and primary supporters/caregivers of PF patients prescribed daily-use O2 to understand the perceptions of others affected by supplemental O2.

Subject's physician allows the subject to abstain from daily-use supplemental oxygen for 7-10 days after prescription to allow data for collection

Primary Supporters

Self-report status of providing care or support to a person living with pulmonary fibrosis who has used supplemental oxygen for more than one year

Able to speak English

O2 Prescribers

Self-report status of being a prescriber of daily-use supplemental oxygen to PF patients

Able to speak English

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01961362